Small bust, big heart

Sweetheart gel swimsuit, £59.99, MaxCleavage

I’ve recently written a round-up of AA-cup swimwear and, last year, I wrote a guide on bikinis and swimsuits to flatter small busts.  But with summer holidays on the horizon at last, I have another gem to share with you:  the gel bikinis and swimsuits now available at MaxCleavage.

Whether to boost or not to boost is completely a personal choice.  On my Miami holiday circa 2008, if you’d have asked me if I wanted a gel bikini I’d have snatched it off you in a heartbeat.

My boobs had just deflated after weaning my son and I was feeling a little bit low about being flat chested.  And Miami beach is not the place to be if you do not have total body confidence.

But now, my self-esteem has grown, even if my breasts have not.  I don’t feel the urge to hoist up and push out my little chest for the beach or pool. I’m happy to wear beautiful, well-fitting bikinis and swimsuits, either without padding, or with a little bit of moulding for a flattering shape.

If you DO want boost, MaxCleavage is the place to get it — and all the bra and swimwear styles are ranked for “Oomph!”.  Go check the swimwear range out if it sounds up your street.

For those who like to keep their tummy under wraps, I recommend the siren style of the Sweetheart Gel Swimsuit in red, £59.99.  For the bikini brave, the Classique Gel Bikini ,£55, looks stunning. Sizes range from 30AA-36C.

Tags: AA-cup bikinis, AA-cup swimwear, gel bikinis, gel swimsuits, small bust bikinis, small bust swimsuits, small bust swimwear

Love summer, hate bikinis? Or, more to the point, you hate swimwear that doesn’t fit your tiny curves. Especially styles that have the audacity to flatten the gradient of your bustline, leaving you looking like an ironing board wrapped in Lycra.

Yep, I’ve been there too. But here’s to stepping out of the shade and into the sunlight, showing off your pert chest in swimwear that does more than just fit, it shows that less really can be more.  Here are the styles I think are sure to make beach-fear a thing of the past for little-chested ladies:

Baku Splendour in the Grass Bikini

BEST FOR VERSATILE FIT:  Baku Splendour in the Grass moulded triangle bikini top in digital orchid print, £37.67, Zodee:  This tie-front bikini top features inbuilt booster padding for shaping and bust-enhancement. 

The halterneck style is highly adjustable thanks to tie-fastening at the neck and back.  The top has matching tie-side pants, £32.29.  Both are available in sizes 8-14.

Sugarchilli Blue Swirls Tankini

BEST FOR TUMMY TUCKING:  Blue swirls tankini top, from $79.95 AUD, Sugarchilli:  This halterneck tankini has moulded, underwired cups with inbuilt booster pads to create an uplifted, rounded shape.  

The clever design has an elasticated back with added ties, which tighten the underbust fit to ensure a push-up effect.  The swirling pattern in marine blue colours, is great for disguising bumps, as is the flirty, frilled swim skirt (worth $34.95) that is free when you buy the tankini top. Wear with matching briefs, $29.95 AUD, or string-tie bottoms, $29.95 AUD. The tankini is available in S,M and L, while the bottoms are available in size 6-12 (see fitting guide).

2 Chillies Havana Balconette Bikini

BEST FOR 50S STYLING:  2 Chillies Havana frilled balconette bra, £31.24, Aussie Swim Store:  This beautiful floral print style, with polka dot contrast, is a vibrant take on the 50s balconette bra top. The design features removable booster padding and adjustable straps, which make it an option for even barely-there A-cups.  It’s available in sizes 6-14 and looks unbelievably cute teamed with the matching skirted pants, £28.11, sold in sizes 8-14.

Panache Atlantis Fleur Bikini

BEST FOR AA-CUP FIT: Panache Atlantis Fleur bandeau bikini, with matching briefs, £36, Perfectly Petite Lingerie:  Cup-size bikini that is actually available in AA-cup: I kid you not. And it’s very pretty too, featuring a geometric pattern with a bright sixties feel. 

The top, with a removable halterneck strap, provides dramatic uplift (claiming to increase your bust by one size).  The briefs, trimmed with a sweet hip frill, complete the cheeky look. Sizes available for the top are 30A, 32AA, 34AA and 36AA to 36B, and for the briefs are 8-14.

Sunseeker Tropics Halterneck Bikini

BEST FOR BUST ENHANCEMENT:  Sunseeker Tropics halter top, £37.50, Simply Beach:  This halterneck bikini top has removable cups which give flattering bust-enhancement and the tie-fastenings at the neck and back create the ideal fit.  The pattern combines a charcoal stripe with a pretty flower print in orange and yellows.  Matching hipster bikini pants, £27.50, complete the look.  Top and bottoms are available in sizes 8-16.

Seafolly Matte Separates Bandeau Swimsuit

BEST FOR CLEVER DESIGN:  Seafolly Matt Separates bandeau maillot with frill, £79, Simply Beach:  A bikini from the back, a stunning belly-concealing one-piece from the front: genius.  This beautiful bandeau swimsuit is amazing in crisp white and its bandeau-style top — with soft cups, boning, gripper tape, clipback and halterneck — provides clever, uplifting support.  A feminine, curve-enhancing  frill sits on the top of the bust and at the small of the back where the fabric is cut away.

For more swimwear advice for small-busts, see another post I’ve written.

Tags: AA-cup bikini, balconette bikini top, bandeau swimsuit, halterneck tankini, padded bikini top, padded tankini, small bust bikinis, small bust swimsuits, small bust swimwear, small bust tankinis, triangle bikini top, underwired tankini